OurFestive SeasonLine-up

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) says a decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to provisionally withdraw charges against Gupta family members and associates linked to the Estina Dairy Farm scandal is wise and that authorities may need to 'regroup' and get all their facts.

The accused include Varun Gupta, former Oakbay chief executive Nazeem Howa and former Sahara chief executive Ashu Chawla as well as three Free State government officials.

It’s emerged that investigators have not completed their probe and have been unable to obtain all the necessary information required for prosecution. The NPA says however, that it can pick up the case following the completion of its investigation.

Chief Executive Officer at OUTA,Wayne Duvenage says this does not signal a lack of political will.

I think this was a case they rushed into. This was a very easy case when you think about it but they hadn't done their homework, their forensic processes hadn't really got to the bottom of it and you can't just go to court with a few bank statements.

— Wayne Duvenage, OUTA CEO

I think they got a lot of egg on their face. They have got to regroup and get all their facts. They are undercapacitated and I think it was probably wise to withdraw it and regroup,formulate a very strong case and lay the charges properly. So they have probably done the right thing, I don't think it is a lack of political will.